Box Canyon Lodge & Hot Springs

What to expect

Box Canyon Lodge & Hot Springs is a small, Victorian-styled motor lodge at the south end of Ouray, on a quiet dead-end street near the entrance to Box Canyon. The building dates to 1959. The draw is the spring: mineral water seeps out of the steep hillside right behind the lodge, and the owners collect it in a row of wooden soaking tubs before it runs on into the Uncompahgre River across the street.

The lodge describes seven red cedar tubs. They sit on decks stepped up the slope, reached by stairs, and look out across the narrow valley to the San Juan peaks that ring Ouray. This is not a pool complex. Each tub holds a few people, and you are sharing them with other guests rather than the public. The Colorado Hot Springs Loop says no chemicals are added to the water and puts the warmer tubs at about 103 to 108°F39 to 42°C. Expect each tub to run a little differently, and test before you climb in.

The spring has a long history as a soaking spot. According to the Colorado Hot Springs Loop, Richard and Bessie Cogar bought the land in 1925 and opened a sanitarium offering hot spring treatments. Later owners renamed it the Sweet Skin Sanitarium and then Crystal Court Springs before the current lodge took shape. According to the terms on its website, the hotel is now owned and operated by TMC Lodge LLC.

The rooms

The lodge has a mix of standard rooms and suites:

• Single King and Single Queen: one bed, sleep 2. The Single King is listed as dog friendly.
• Hot Springs King: sleeps 2 and faces the courtyard directly across from the tub decks, the closest room to the water.
• Double Queen and Box Canyon Double Queen Suite
• San Juan Family Suites #1 and #2: two queen beds plus a queen sleeper sofa, sleeping 6, with a fireplace and kitchenette.
• Alpine Residence Suites
• Gold Belt and Red Mountain King Suites: the Gold Belt has a marble garden tub and a private balcony.

Standard rooms come with a microwave, mini-fridge, coffee maker, TV, safe, heating and air conditioning, and Wi-Fi. Breakfast is an add-on at $10 per person per day, with children under 12 free.

Getting there

Ouray sits on US Highway 550, the Million Dollar Highway, in the San Juan Mountains of southwest Colorado.

• From Montrose and the north: Drive south on US 550 through Ridgway into Ouray. Main Street is US 550 through town. At the south end of town, turn west onto 3rd Avenue toward Box Canyon Falls. The lodge is at number 45.
• From Silverton and Durango: Come north over Red Mountain Pass on US 550. The road drops into Ouray at the south end of town, close to the lodge.

The lodge sits near the end of the road, so traffic is light. US 550 south of Ouray is a steep mountain road with tight curves and few guardrails, and it can close for snow or avalanche control in winter. Check Colorado Department of Transportation conditions before driving the passes.

When to go

The lodge is open year-round, and Ouray changes completely by season.

Winter brings the Ouray Ice Park and ice climbers from around the world. Cold nights are the best time for a tub on the hillside, and from October 1 to May 15 most standard rooms only need a one-night stay.

Summer and early fall are the busy months, with jeep tours, hiking and the via ferrata. From May 16 to September 30 the minimum stay rises to two nights in standard rooms and three in the family suites. Book early for summer weekends and the fall color season.

Prices and booking

Room rates are not published as a fixed list. You check dates and prices through the lodge’s online booking engine, linked from the website. Pool access is included with your room, and there is no separate soaking fee for guests.

What to know before you book:

• Guests only. The tubs are for overnight guests. There are no day passes.
• Minimum check-in age is 21.
• Children under 6 may not use the hot tubs.
• Check-in is after 4 pm and check-out is 11 am. Call by 8 pm if you will arrive late.
• Dogs: allowed in ground-floor rooms except suites and apartments, $30 per dog per night, two dogs maximum. Undocumented pets bring a $150 fee.
• No smoking of cigarettes or marijuana. Fees are $150 and $300.
• Minimum stays: 1 night (standard rooms) or 2 nights (family suites) from October 1 to May 15; 2 or 3 nights from May 16 to September 30.

Contact the lodge at 970-708-2025 or through the contact form on the website.

Where to stay nearby

If Box Canyon is full, Ouray has several other hot spring stays. Wiesbaden Hot Springs Spa & Lodgings has its vapor cave a few blocks away, and Twin Peaks Lodge & Hot Springs is also in town. The public Ouray Hot Springs Pool on Main Street is the place for a day soak. North of town, Orvis Hot Springs near Ridgway is a clothing-optional option with lodging and camping.

Safety notes

• Stairs and decks: The tubs are up the hillside. Steps can be icy in winter, so wear shoes with grip between your room and the tub.
• Hot water at altitude: Ouray is at about 7,800 feet. Hot tubs feel stronger at elevation. Keep soaks short and drink water.
• Children: Kids under 6 are not allowed in the tubs, and older children should be supervised.
• Mountain driving: Red Mountain Pass south of town is steep and exposed. In winter, carry chains or have good snow tires.

Nearby stops worth adding

Box Canyon Falls, at the end of the road past the lodge, is a short walk through a narrow slot canyon to a waterfall crashing through a quartzite gorge. The Ouray Ice Park in the Uncompahgre Gorge is a short walk away in winter. Main Street has the historic Beaumont Hotel, Wright’s Opera House and the Ouray County Historical Museum, housed in an 1880s miners’ hospital.